tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post2189953033313560869..comments2023-11-29T13:50:03.704+01:00Comments on Cycle Chic®: Terminology FollyColville-Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-6363412802637996382012-02-18T20:07:04.871+01:002012-02-18T20:07:04.871+01:00I'm wondering if she told you all of these thi...I'm wondering if she told you all of these things, Mikael, or if you are speaking for her.katelyn Halenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-54146460813187398562012-02-08T16:52:28.365+01:002012-02-08T16:52:28.365+01:00this post is great, thank you!this post is great, thank you!digital-weight-scalehttp://digital-weight-scale.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-74830304882772145282011-02-28T06:01:03.235+01:002011-02-28T06:01:03.235+01:00The silent advocate is what Toronto needs more of....The silent advocate is what Toronto needs more of. No need to over complicate what a 5 year old already knows. <br /><br />love the post.'Xander Labayenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793880692099538955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-61315772701698693302011-02-17T17:32:43.085+01:002011-02-17T17:32:43.085+01:00How do you 'guarantee' that? Did you test ...How do you 'guarantee' that? Did you test your theory by doing the same topple without a helmet?<br /><br />If you know about the science of helmets and the industrial design of them, you'll know that helmets aren't even tested for impact on the front, sides or back, only on the crown of the head on a flat surface.<br /><br />The Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation has an article about these <a href="http://cyclehelmets.org/1209.html" rel="nofollow">"a helmet saved my life" claims</a>.<br /><br />False faith in sub-standard 'safety' equipment is dangerous.<br /><br />With that said, that topple could easily happen as a pedestrian, so be sure to keep the helmet on at all times. <a href="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/10/australian-helmet-science-for-motorists.html" rel="nofollow">In cars, too</a>.<br /><br />And here is <a href="http://video.tedxcopenhagen.dk/video/911034/mikael-colville-andersen" rel="nofollow">a TED talk about helmets and the culture of fear</a>.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-92040496974010418552011-02-04T17:55:26.971+01:002011-02-04T17:55:26.971+01:00I tend to be inconsistent about wearing a helmet, ...I tend to be inconsistent about wearing a helmet, but I'm certainly glad I was wearing it when I had a crash a couple summers back (I had been drinking and was watching Fourth of July fireworks and didn't notice a curb). I ended up with various lacerations, two badly sprained wrists, and a mild welt across my forehead where the impact of the helmet against the concrete transferred some of the energy. At the speed I was going and the way my helmeted head slammed into the corner of a hard concrete curb, I guarantee you I would have been MUCH worse off without the helmet!SlackerInchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08275358994906136088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-61058307239839260292010-12-27T16:59:47.802+01:002010-12-27T16:59:47.802+01:00Look, Dutch people calling them 'Dutch bikes&#...Look, Dutch people calling them 'Dutch bikes' ... in Dutch: http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=811&q=%22hollandse+fiets%22&aq=f&aqi=g2&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=abf023fa88c5b3ebLawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701378735409077364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-66034440854092556042010-10-10T23:35:55.425+02:002010-10-10T23:35:55.425+02:00Hi - I live in Lodz, a second-biggest city in Pola...Hi - I live in Lodz, a second-biggest city in Poland. We have some "bicycle culture", especially Critical Mass of ca. 400 people, and some other events. There's obviously a cycle chic movement - see http://lodzcyclechic.blogspot.com [Witek and Hubert do a fine job selling imported city bikes, photographing fine ladies and gentlemen, fighting for bike-friendly traffic amenities such as "not concerning bikes" plates under "no traffic" / "no entry" signs, bike lanes, traffic lights etc.]; I adopted the idea wholeheartedly in May, and since my old and badly-fitting "supermarket mountain bike" was breaking up non-stop, I bought myself a Dutch roadster... much creativity, effort, time and money went into repairing and hot-rodding it [with a side effect of learning a lot about bicycle repair and equipment!] - now I ride it every day and am very proud of the machine. Of course, I don't wear cycling/sports clothes, that's not my thing because I experiment a lot with fashion, esp. avant-garde/retro/genderqueer/gothic styles. You would see me on my bike dressed just like I'd be on foot [with an exception of a long coat ;)], or in an even more creative way - unfortunately, there are a lot of chavs/machos/idiots in the streets, and I feel less likely to be assaulted when on a saddle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-32740571066584010812010-04-09T09:01:39.420+02:002010-04-09T09:01:39.420+02:00Hey Mikael,
Cycling is not 'boomi...Hey Mikael, <br /><br /> Cycling is not 'booming in Australia' 2nd Februaury '09. It may be busting (except for racing). I question whether the bicycle is suitable 'for every weather condition.' I no longer cycle in 45'C (112'F). Dermatology is expensive for ageing skin even if the rest of me is in great shape. Australia needs cycling like Denmark needs winter, though I take my hat off for Sue Abbott. <br /><br /> Milo.Milohttp://milohurley2004@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-86603573157141319712010-02-05T20:17:38.453+01:002010-02-05T20:17:38.453+01:00Sylvia: maybe you haven't read any research th...Sylvia: maybe you haven't read any research that is helmet-sceptic because you didn't want to/weren't looking for it.<br /><br />A good place to start is <a href="http://www.cyclehelmets.org" rel="nofollow">The Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation</a>.<br /><br />Whoever told you that he avoided brain damage because he was wearing a helmet clearly didn't know many facts about helmets. The fact is that there is nowhere in the world where helmets have proven effective in reducing serious head injuries and/or death. <br /><br />The reason is, quite simply, that they aren't even designed to protect the head against anything but non life threatening injuries in solo accidents under 20 km/h.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-82949409654116750982010-02-03T05:45:34.479+01:002010-02-03T05:45:34.479+01:00My brother was in a cycling accident about a year ...My brother was in a cycling accident about a year ago. They said the reason he didn't have major brain damage was because he had a helmet on.. so I am a major helmet advocate. I don't let my kids ride anything without them! I'd rather be safe than sorry.. and I've never read research that says it's better to be without a helmet.<br />-Sylvia<br /><a href="http://www.digitalscalesaz.com" rel="nofollow">Digital Scales</a>Sylviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14810993927507148343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-2825120964280595312009-08-16T15:57:54.841+02:002009-08-16T15:57:54.841+02:00Mikael,
The beauty of Copenhagen cycling ...Mikael,<br /><br /> The beauty of Copenhagen cycling is that it is ordinary, autonomous and profoundly sane. No conscious 'statements' about anything, except the naturalness of the moment. <br /> After 15 years in the US, I'm discovering that the picture back in Australia is very different. Here in S.Australia cycling is dying. Outside Adelaide in the country towns, cycling scarcely exists. You rarely see another cyclist. <br /> The research I am reading suggests something odd: cycling began a slow decline after the introduction of compulsory helmet-use in 1992. The perception that cyclists need protecting from themselves, that they need to 'dress up' to avoid being ironed into the pavement by ordinary people in passing cars, seems to have caused many to give up. The constable who ticketed Sue Viro confessed that he, too, had stopped cycling when the no-exceptions helmet law was introduced.<br /> What various bits of current research seem to have found is that, consciously or not, the helmet law signalled a subliminal message that defeated its intent: 'The Government has determined that the riding of bicycles results in crushed heads.<br /> Cultural factors fed into this disastrous decision. Australians are passionate about sports. All through the 70s and 80s, the only sort of available bikes, good and bad, were racers. Attempts at touring and commuter bikes produced de-tuned racers. Unsuitable bikes meant that many gave up cycling; the comforts of cars and middle-age further marginalized cycling. Now, back in 1992, people were being told that all cycling was dangerous, a minority avocation; like art or contemplative prayer or learning Danish, it would end in tears. <br /> Recently the New Zealand Minister of Transport admitted the helmet law may have had unforeseen effects: the data suggested less people were cycling. This unforeseen result, for which there are echoes in Australia, means that should the pool of regular cyclists continue to decline, the most important single safety feature in all cycling in a car-dependent age, safety-in-numbers, will be lost. The more of us on the road, the better. Few see the biycle as anything other than a poor man's exercise machine. Outside racing, few take the bicycle seriously as transport to work, or as an adjunct to shopping. Maybe the country is too big. Perhaps our imaginations are too small. Yet there are exceptions: some people ride out of Sydney and do not stop at Darwin. A trickle crosses the Nullarbor; You Tube has clips of adventurers riding through the Northern Territories for Port Augusta. <br /> What worries me is that Copenhagen-style cycling will be misunderstood here and seen as a fashion-conscious statement with the bike as photo-prop by people who will not take cycling seriously. Australia lacks a national organization to promote the needs of cyclists-like the CTC and Sustrans in the U.K. Future decisions affecting cycling will remain in the hands of politicians only, for whom cycling constitutes few votes and no advantage. Will they kill it by trying to 'improve'<br />it?<br /> The man who clipped me at an intersection recently, destroying my front wheel, was apologetic. But something in his manner remains with me. He was astonished, amazed, that I should be on a bicycle at all. (Couldn't I see how inconvenient this was for him?). <br /> In a peculiar way I feel more vulnerable on a bicycle here in sleepy, country Australia than I did in America, whether in cities or cycling over the Rockies to San Francisco. <br /> In the US I never wore a helmet. Here in Australia I don't wear one either, though I've tried. They are too horrible and unnatural. They will do little for you in a crash; some research suggests they make things worse. Milo.milohurley2004@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-39470953497624623602009-03-31T15:00:00.000+02:002009-03-31T15:00:00.000+02:00Hey, Mikael. Don't be unfair. I agree: activists a...Hey, Mikael. Don't be unfair. I agree: activists are terribly boring. But they are making their point here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I've seen them riding, then I started "commuting" by bike, left my car in the garage after buying lots of cycling clothes that now are really useless. Now I grab my bike and go everywhere in nice summer dresses (it's summer almost the whole year in Brazil!) and high heels, because of your blog. But it takes time to change a culture. I'm trying to add something and created a local cycle chic blog, gataderodas.blogspot.com. I wish we could be free from activism and just ride, but the car culture is so intense here that activism is a step to reach the bike culture point, when we won't have do worry so much about achieving rights and making manifestos for peace in the traffic.Verônica Mambrinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531328038675198891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-61534831891440348952009-02-06T11:08:00.000+01:002009-02-06T11:08:00.000+01:00greece isn't hotter than the south of spain in the...greece isn't hotter than the south of spain in the summer, or many other places. and <A HREF="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/09/copenhagenizing-here-and-there.html" REL="nofollow">they seem to manage fine</A>.<BR/><BR/>and what about australia? where cycling is booming? bicycles are perfect for every weather condition.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-781319553343151122009-02-02T20:16:00.000+01:002009-02-02T20:16:00.000+01:00Hello from Athens, Greece. I think tha Nothern eur...Hello from Athens, Greece. I think tha Nothern europe has the perfect climate for cycling, unfortunately even with a low pace anyone would get extremely sweaty in Athens from March to November (temperatures range from 25C to 45C). I only cycle on my spare time, never while commuting to work). Commuting by cycle in cities is doomed in Southern Europe...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-24369981227452317712009-01-29T08:01:00.000+01:002009-01-29T08:01:00.000+01:00hiya -- 20 bike shops within 1km - no wonder you d...hiya -- <BR/><BR/>20 bike shops within 1km - <BR/>no wonder you don't turn any wrenches.<BR/>there is no - push my bike to the shop and find another way ...<BR/><BR/>i have to go 10 km<BR/>inside the city .. to find one decent storeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-63692981108612740782008-09-22T19:46:00.000+02:002008-09-22T19:46:00.000+02:00I lived in Copenhagen as an expat for a year and b...I lived in Copenhagen as an expat for a year and biking comes out of necessity for many. Cars are expensive (180% tax), gas is expensive, parking is hard to come by especially in the city, and traffic is bad. People rely on public transportation and their own 2 wheels to get everywhere. I didn't own a car and biked to work at least 3 days per week (about 15km each way). On the days where I didn't bike, I rode public transportation. <BR/><BR/>Danes are highly taxed everywhere (income tax is usually around 55%) but the government takes this to take care of its residents. Bike lanes are marked almost everywhere, even in the country, and some urban intersections even have special bike traffic lights. There are special rules for cyclists and everyone follows them without question. <BR/><BR/>The only thing is it is very common to have your bike stolen and Danes just saw this as the way it is. I found this shocking for a culture that usually follows the rules so religiously. <BR/><BR/>Bikes are just a way of life. It is not unusual to see a woman riding in high heel boots on her heavy granny style cruiser bike, smoking while on the mobile phone with bags of groceries dangling off her handlebars. I looked totally out of place in my bike shorts, helmet and road bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-89311758106540780082008-09-19T15:45:00.000+02:002008-09-19T15:45:00.000+02:00I commented about this on my blog, Slow Bike Miami...I commented about this on my blog, Slow Bike Miami Beach:<BR/><BR/>http://dmperez.com/cycling/2008/09/18/terminology-needed/Daniel M. Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925361410965684491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-43038878652063534152008-09-16T12:21:00.000+02:002008-09-16T12:21:00.000+02:00golly - i don't know how i stumbled onto this old ...golly - i don't know how i stumbled onto this old post, but it cracked me up.<BR/><BR/>i will say that bicycle advocacy seems to be a very necessary thing in San Francisco at the moment. you know that we can't even install a bike rack at the moment, right? :D<BR/><BR/>seriously. it's america. and this one doesn't even have anything to do with george bush or bill clinton.<BR/><BR/>but, point taken. funny. :DPeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319342837525619844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-88973251639924624662008-09-16T08:57:00.000+02:002008-09-16T08:57:00.000+02:00you're never too late! thanks for sharing your poi...you're never too late! thanks for sharing your point of view.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-2414037532382797632008-09-16T01:25:00.000+02:002008-09-16T01:25:00.000+02:00This is an interesting point. At first, I wanted t...This is an interesting point. At first, I wanted to yell "No! It's different in the States!" but I realize that you're really just suggesting an idea for how to spread the movement.<BR/><BR/>I am a student, I live in Boston MA (a very condensed city, but one with terrible weather and drivers, mostly terrible roads, a few big hills, and very few bike lanes), and I ride a bike to school and work. All of my friends (and most of my acquaintances) bike, and we all wear normal clothes.<BR/><BR/>I have been biking for a couple of years, mainly because the public transportation here is very unreliable (and driving is worse), and I recently convinced a few of my friends to pick it up as well. And the way I did it was exactly how you said - I made it look and sound easy. The biking "style" in Boston is not nerdy/tech-y but still quite distinct: fixed-gear road bikes that are custom-built are most common. And there's a certain kind of waterproof messenger bag that I don't even know the name of, but everyone has those, too and they're around $100.<BR/><BR/>I ride an old Schwinn cruiser from the 1960s. With a basket. That cost $50. And I reminded my skeptical friends that I'm not particularly athletic, or daring, or motivated, or anything. I just bike to work because it's convenient. This summer, three of them whom I never thought I'd see biking ended up trying it out, and falling in love with it. I don't think they ever would have tried it had they only been surrounded by the intense and intimidating "fixie" subculture that surrounds the world of biking here.<BR/><BR/>(PS I know I'm a little late on the commenting, but this blog post was recently featured on kottke.org)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-16599435628062222382008-09-16T01:17:00.000+02:002008-09-16T01:17:00.000+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.someonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10540374039386013697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-31642126033745594042008-09-14T13:23:00.000+02:002008-09-14T13:23:00.000+02:00When I see people riding round London on normal bi...When I see people riding round London on normal bikes dressed in normal clothing I often compliment them. Me, I usually wear bike clothing because I ride as fast as I can and I find it gets me to the other end less sweaty, but I love to see people riding bikes with baskets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-618281275076371132008-08-29T08:02:00.000+02:002008-08-29T08:02:00.000+02:00that kildemoes bike name is for the German market!...that kildemoes bike name is for the German market! only for export!Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-7529645591064637692008-08-27T10:53:00.000+02:002008-08-27T10:53:00.000+02:00Speaking of commuting ... today I saw a Kildemoes ...Speaking of commuting ... today I saw a Kildemoes bike in Germany which was called "Commuter" (it was written on the frame). Is Kildemoes adopting the American vocabulary? Scary :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-41610883848541552272008-05-27T13:16:00.000+02:002008-05-27T13:16:00.000+02:00Thanks for the comment, George. Firstly, I just po...Thanks for the comment, George. Firstly, I just posted about Canberra today... <A HREF="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/05/dreams-on-wheels-copenhagen-bike.html" REL="nofollow">if you hurry you can catch the exhibition.</A><BR/><BR/>Bike lights are required by law here. <A HREF="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2007/07/lights-of-my-life.html" REL="nofollow">I have a post about it in detail.</A><BR/><BR/>Most new bikes come with lights these days.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.com